From Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes to Les Marrons
A St Léger Les Mélèzes
A St Léger Les Mélèzes - Parc national Ecrins - Thibaut Blais
Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes

1. From Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes to Les Marrons

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Setting out from Saint-Léger-Les-Mélèzes, you soon come to the Canal de Gap amidst the woods. At the Pont de Frappe, fork off towards the Plaine de Chabottes before taking to the heights as you head to Chaillol.
After the tunnel of greenery along the Gap canal and the delights of the Plaine de Chabottes, the ascent begins at the edge of the fields and hedgerows of Champsaur, rising up to the Aiguilles de Famourrou and Le Palastre. From Chabottonnes, you will be enchanted by the climb towards Les Marrons and its beautiful vantage points looking onto the peaks and valleys. Culture enthusiasts will be happy to browse the open-air art exhibition on the Arbrespin art trail.

Description

From the Écuries des Écrins stables, go through Saint Léger les Mélèzes, passing the mayor's office, the Tourist Office and the church, and continue straight ahead (south-west) along the Chemin du Pin and then the Chemin de Pied La Poa.

  1. Take the grassy path on the right which runs down along the edge of the forest, taking the time to enjoy the view of the Chaillol mountains. Follow the PR (Petite Randonnée, short-distance trail) waymarking and head right downhill along a wooded path until you reach Le Tou. Nearly all the tree species found in the Champsaur valley grow here: alder, oak, beech, willow and, of course, conifers such as the larch, Scots pine, black pine, spruce and fir.
  2. Turn left towards Bouscatu (its name is taken from the archaic French term for "wooded place").
  3. The track is smooth and flat, and runs along the canal offering tunnels of shaded greenery. This canal runs through the mountain under the Col de Manse and re-emerges near the Lac des Jaussauds. It then carries on as far as Charance, 12 km further on. In Bouscatu, head towards L'Are and then continue straight ahead towards Le Champ de Moïse. At the intersection with the Les Eyrauds track, take the level path opposite, still running along the canal side.
  4. Where it comes out onto the Piste des Communs track, turn left onto the level track and then immediately right onto a downhill footpath and fork left. The footpath comes out onto a new, drivable, track on a bend at Les Communs. Carry on downhill until you come to Grand Pièce. Here, turn left onto the track on the right - perfect for a gallop - which brings you to the D514.
  5. When you come to the road, head right downhill to join the D944 : follow this to the right and then cross over and take the L'Aiguillon path as far as Jacon and then the Chemin du Drac which carries on as a track. At the end, turn right (Chemin du Parquet) and then left (Route de Gouges, D473). Turn left onto the Route de Chabottes and the Pont de Chabottes, then right onto the D43A Route de Chaillol as far as the mill ("Moulin").
  6. Take the Chemin de Prés Vieux along a flat and very easy track (Canal de St-Bonnet) until you reach the mill in Chabottonnes. Continue straight on until you reach Chabottonnes.
  7. In Chabottonnes, go left uphill and then right in front of the water fountain, heading towards the gîte. After the last house, the winding track is wide and drivable at first and then turns into a bumpy footpath which continues to rise uphill and offers some beautiful landscapes: meadows, a lake Le Palastre. The footpath joins a track which turns into a road just below St-Michel de Chaillol. Here, take the time to admire the church, small cemetery and larch water fountain, all remarkable features. Turn right before the church, go past the cemetery and the water fountain and continue straight on between the houses along a well-maintained grassy track leading towards L'Arbrespin (a thematic contemporary art discovery trail). Turn right onto the art trail which starts with 3 small steps and has two gates, which can be skirted around (but are easy to negotiate). As you leave the art trail, the path widens and levels out and offers some fine views over the meadows and the Vieux Chaillol mountain range. At the Sainte-Anne oratory, take the road to the left, heading towards Les Marrons.
  8. At Les Marrons, take a moment to admire the water fountain and the church which have been superbly restored. Retrace your steps and follow the Riou Mort uphill until you reach the gîte Le Chamois, a staging gîte.
  • Towns crossed : Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes, Chabottes, Saint-Jean-Saint-Nicolas, and Saint-Michel-de-Chaillol

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